Flow control mechanism for cooling systems



Sept 20, 1949 R. H. GODDARD 2,482,261

FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM FOR COOLING SYSTEMS Filed June 25, 1947 INVENTOR.

BY n

L ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM FOR COOLING SYSTEMS Application June 25, 1947, Serial No. 756,863

4 Claims. f (Cl. 257-2) This invention relates to cooling systems and particularly to cooling systems associated with the jacketing of combustion chambers and discharge nozzles in propulsion apparatus.

It is the general object of this invention to improve the efficiency of such cooling mechanism by varying the flow of cooling liquid inversely to the resistance to iiow of said liquid.

A further object is to provide mechanism for separately controlling the flow in each channel of a subdivided jacket space and inversely to the resistance to now in each channel.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a jacketed discharge nozzle embodying this invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a projected view illustrating the operation of the regulating vanes;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing one regulating vane and its supporting and control devices; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of a conical discharge nozzle I'Il is shown as provided with an outer casing II and with a plurality of longitudinally extended radial vanes I2, which together denne a jacket space subdivided into channels I4. The lower end of each channel has an unobstructed entrance from a manifold or volute 20 supplied with a cooling iluid through a feed pipe 2 I. The lower end of each vane I2 is curved, as indicated at I 2a, to direct a. portion of the cooling liquid into the associated channel I4, through which channel the liquid flows upwardly.

In the upward travel of the cooling liquid, portions of the liquid may be vaporized by contact with the hot surface of the nozzle I0. This vapor may then accumulate in one or more channels, thus causing gas bind and restricting the flow of the cooling liquid therethrough. As the vapor itself is a very poor heat conductor, the associated nozzle wall portions may be quickly injured by overheating.

In order to correct this undesirable condition, a Vane 30 is mounted at the lower end or entrance of each of the channels I4. Each vane 30 is loose on an arm 3l of an arbor 32 (Fig. 2) supported in bearings in a casing 33 extending outward from the jacket casing I I'. A coil spring 35 is enclosed in the casing 33 and tends to move the vane 30 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 or from the position lshown at 30a in Fig. 2 to the position shown at 3Ilb. The upper end portion of each vane is more sharply curved.

As Water iiows around the volute 20, it engages the lower portion of each vane 30 and a portion is diverted into each channel I4. As the water flows upward in each channel, the action of the water against the vane tends to swing each vane from its lower toward its raised position, and in its raised position reduces the flow of water to the amount required for cooling under normal conditions.

In case of gas bind, the ow of water in a particular channel is restricted, so that there is less force to hold the vane in raised position. The associated spring 35 then moves the vane downward toward its lower position, thus directing more water into the channel. This increased flow produces additional cooling effect in the channel in which flow was restricted by gas bind and quickly clears the accumulated vapor out of the channel. Further increased iiow then raises the vane again to normal operating position.

Accordingly, this invention discloses mechanism well adapted to regulate the ow of cooling liquid in any channel inversely to the restriction of liquid ow in such channel.

Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. In a cooling system, a jacket having a plurality of adjacent passages for cooling liquid, a common liquid supply for all of said passages, a liquiddiverting device in each of said passages which is movable out of liquid-diverting position in said common supply by engagement with a normal ow of liquid in the associated passage, and spring means to advance each device to diverting position. with respect to said common supply when flow through the associated passage is retarded and reduced.

2. In a cooling system, a branch passage, a liquid supply therefor, a vane in said branch passage having a diverting portion movable into said liquid supply, and a spring to move said vane into said passage, said vane having a portion engaged by liquid flowing through said passage and said vane being moved out of said supply when thus engaged by a normal ow of liquid.

3. In a cooling system, a liquid supply passage,

a branch passage, a diverting vane pivoted at the rality of adjacent passages for cooling liquid, a 10 common liquid supply for all of said passages. a liquid diverting device pivoted in each of said passages, and spring means to swing each device to diverting position with respect to said common supply, and each device being moved from divert- 15 ing position by engagement with normal ow of liquid through its associated passage.

ESTHER C. GODDARD, Executria: of the Last Will, and Testament of Robert H. Goddard, Deceased.

lmFEmsNEsr crrED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name `\Date 2,000,289 Downs Nov)` 10, 1936 2,112,520 Crawford Mar. 29, 193s 

